ARE YOU PRAYING OUT OF YOUR FEARS OR OUT OF THE PROMISES OF GOD?

"If it pleases God to sustain by other means than bread, it will be done. His word can be trusted. God fed Israel with manna, sent by His word, and we can trust His promises." - People's New Testament

Matthew 4:4 says - "But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."
Hebrew 11:6 says - "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."

Look with us for a moment at the account of Hagar and Ishmael in Genesis 21:14-20 which says - "And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer."

In this account, two people prayed to the Lord. It is recorded that Hagar "lifted up her voice, and wept." On the contrary, the Scriptures do not tell us how Ishmael prayed. They simply report that "God heard the voice of the lad."

Why doesn't the Bible say that God heard this mother's prayers for her son? After all, aren't a Mother's Prayers some of the Most Effective Ones to ever be uttered?

The Scriptures never mention a word about Hagar's Prayers. They only say that "God heard the voice of the lad." These words clearly tell us that "the lad" was definitely crying out to God for help in this desperate situation.

There is a hint here as to why Hagar's cries are not spoken of as touching God. The intimation lies in her words - "Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept."

There is also a hint as to why "God heard the voice of the lad where he was." It lies in the words of the "angel of God" which said - "Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation."

For a moment, it is important to backtrack and rehearse the "word of the Lord" that Hagar received directly from the "angel of the LORD" concerning Ishmael. In Genesis 16:8-11, we find these words - "And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. "

God specifically told Hagar that she would have a son, name him Ishmael, and he would become a multitude of people. However, when she was in dire straits, we find her acting as though she never received this word - "And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child."

Was Ishmael going to die? Did God not say that out of Ishmael - her seed - would come a great multitude of people? What ever happened to the promise of God?

Now, let's go over to Genesis 17:20 and 21:13, and see what the Lord God said to Abraham concerning His son Ishmael - "And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation." "and also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed."

It is very possible that Abraham rehearsed these words before Ishmael in his younger years. What Father wouldn't continuously remind his son of the "word of the Lord" concerning him? Plus, it is recorded in Genesis 18:19 regarding Abraham's ways of conducting his household - "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him." No doubt that Abraham constantly rehearsed with his family and household all that the Lord had spoken concerning them.

When it came down to dire straits, it is very likely that Ishmael remembered the "word of the Lord" relating to his destiny. As he lay there in the wilderness dying, it is very possible - in fact almost implied - that he reminded God of the "words" that were spoken over his life.

How do we know this for sure?

We believe that the answer is given or at least suggested in verse 18 of Genesis 21 which says - "Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation."

It is very probable that "the lad" was praying the promises of God and reminding Him of what He had spoken to both his Mom and Dad concerning his life. God responded to such faith with a "Yes" and "Amen" by repeating the promise - "for I will make him a great nation" - as if to say - "Yes, I am a God of My word, and I do remember My Promises. I have said this, and I will bring it to pass. You will not die but live. I have a destiny for your life."

To whom did the "ear of the Lord" turn that day in the wilderness - to the crying Mother who lost sight of the promise and, resultantly, fell into despair, or to the "young lad" who - even at the point of death - was holding onto the promises of God?

The Bible gives us the answer - "And God heard the voice of the lad."

Do you want God to hear your "voice" when you pray?

Then pray the Word! Pray the promises! Remind Him of what He has spoken to you over the years concerning your ministry, family, marriage, business, etc.

Whatever you do, keep your focus on the "Word of the Lord." Don't let go - no matter what happens.

As He did for Ishmael, He will do for you.

He will create a "well of water" for you - right there in the wilderness. Just when you think you are "going down" for the last time - when all hope is seemingly gone - He will show up with His Presence, Power, and Provision.

He is the sustainer of your life. His Word is keeping you alive today. He "upholds all things" concerning you and yours by His Word. He has a plan and a purpose that will be fulfilled.

Don't forget! Pray the Promises!

Don't pray out of your fears; pray out of the "word of the Lord"!

He will surely hear you when you do!

May God Bless His Word,
Connie

© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved

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